search the site...
the magazine
archives: june 2011
value...
archives: june 2011
what would revival look like?
by mike pilavachi
I am writing this from Brazil, from a province called “Espirito Santo” which means Holy Spirit. The name is a product of history but there is a reality here that has left me dumbfounded and full of questions. I was invited to speak at a youth conference in the city of Vitoria. There have been about 2500 in attendance. On the first night the guests included the deputy Governor of the province, the state Senator, the mayor of the city and the favourite candidate to become the new Governor in next year’s elections. Only one of these guests is a Christian. They came because they respect the way the hosting church is so involved in serving the community. And they really are.
The prison here held 250 inmates. It was a terrible place. With about seventy to a cell, they couldn’t all lie down at the same time so they would sleep in shifts. The justice system in Brazil is unbelievably slow for the poor so someone who stole a piece of chicken because he was hungry could spend literally years in prison. The church went in there and instead of simply running meetings they took their doctors and lawyers and teachers. A few years later the prison holds 150 inmates and the atmosphere is transformed.
I met a remarkable elderly lady. She buried her husband and daughter a few years ago and ever since has been serving the occupants of one of the worst favella’s (slums) in Rio. The crime rate was one of the worst in Brazil when she started. Now they tell me that 83 per cent of the population are followers of Jesus, crime is almost non-existent and the whole area is totally transformed. The church take a bus equipped with a cafe around the town six days a week and offer to talk to and pray for anyone who asks. Some days they have a queue. The pastor has told me that they see between eight and ten people giving their lives to Jesus each day.
What is the secret? Is it something in the atmosphere? If it was I would bottle it and bring it home. The secret may not be what we would like to hear but this is what makes it authentic. For the last four years they have been praying as a church 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Two years ago the Governor of the state gave the Pastor two bodyguards to look after him and he had to wear a bullet proof vest because there were members of the underworld threatening to take his life. I sat in a meeting last night when he told the young people “Jesus gave his blood, sweat and tears for us, we can give no less for him”.
He challenged them to get off their back sides, get over their petty ambitions and give their all for the Kingdom. He told them to stop asking “Lord, what is your will for my life?” He said, “He has already told you his will for you: ‘You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit will last’. His will for you is that your life bears lasting fruit for the Kingdom”. They all clapped and cheered. They meant it. They live it. Everyone I have met is making life decisions based on the question “how does this help to advance the Kingdom?” And all of this is not reluctant and a heavy-hearted counting of the cost. If God loves a cheerful giver, he must adore these people.
Jesus Christ is not an optional extra added into their social life. He really is the centre of their lives. I met many new believers and saw many coming to faith. The latest estimate is that 30 per cent of the Brazilian population follow Jesus. So here is the question: what do we need to do in order to see this happening here? Initially I was tempted to return home and blast everyone for their lack of passion and zeal. “Repent of your lukewarm love before he spits you out of his mouth” I was going to say. And I was preparing some choice words for the consumer Christians who won’t commit to church because “no one asks us how we want to do church”. And then I was stopped in my tracks. I asked the leaders how they discipled these young people. “What method of mentoring do you use?” I enquired. Their answer was simple and it hurt. “We take their hands and walk with them. We lead by example. They see the joy we have in Jesus as we serve and then they serve with us”. So there it is. If I want those I lead to be men and women of prayer and the word, then I must be that first. If I long for them to be more passionate, generous, committed with their time as well as their money then it has to start with me. Drat. I knew there was a catch.
About the author
Mike is a old, old man. He heads up all things Soul Survivor, gets excited about cooking, Manchester United and seeing people come to know and grow in a relationship with Jesus.
Soul Survivor is a Christian charity that puts on events for young people. Our registered charity no. is 1080720. We are also a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales. Our company registered number is 03991111, which is nice. Thanks for caring.
e. info@soulsurvivor.com | t. 0303 333 1 333
Soul Survivor | Unit 2 Paramount Industrial Estate | Sandown Road | Watford | Herts. | UK